In the wake of the second GOP presidential debate, former President Trump expressed his strong disapproval of fellow GOP candidate Nikki Haley on Friday, using some colorful language. Trump took to Truth Social to voice his criticisms, branding Haley as a “birdbrain.” He made it abundantly clear that he and the “MAGA” movement would not support her, citing a lack of loyalty and an abundance of untruths.
According to The Hill, Trump specifically pointed to Haley’s earlier statement in which she pledged not to run for president in 2024 if Trump decided to launch another White House campaign. Trump reminded everyone of her words, saying, “‘I will never run against our great President,’ she said, ‘he has done an outstanding job.’ To which I responded, ‘How nice of you to say, Nikki,’ knowing full well that her words mean nothing. She even came to Mar-a-Lago with her family, ‘bearing gifts.’ Anyway, Birdbrain doesn’t have the TALENT or TEMPERAMENT to do the job. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
This social media outburst from Trump came in response to criticisms from Haley and others during the Wednesday debate, as Haley’s popularity within the GOP presidential field has been on the rise. Haley, clearly undeterred by Trump’s remarks, responded to his post on Friday, indicating that it signifies her campaign’s growing momentum. She confidently stated, “Love this. It means we are in 2nd and moving up fast. Bring it!”
Haley had recently earned second place in a New Hampshire poll, garnering 15 percent support. She also experienced a significant surge in polling after her first debate performance in August. During the second debate, Haley took the opportunity to critique Trump’s China-related policies during his presidency, asserting that he primarily focused on trade relations but failed to address other crucial issues such as China’s involvement in the fentanyl trade, military activities in Cuba, and espionage activities.
In addition to the debate, candidates had criticized Trump for opting to skip the event and instead holding a separate gathering. Haley, during a Fox News appearance on Thursday, remarked that Trump had a “lot of questions to answer to” and emphasized the importance of being present in the race, stating, “You can’t win if you’re absent.”
Furthermore, the Trump campaign had previously taken aim at Haley right after her debate performance, highlighting an interview she had given in 2012 in which she praised then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as an “inspiration” for her career. The campaign also criticized her stance on continued U.S. aid for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, arguing that she prioritized spending over finding a peaceful resolution.